Hola Cuba

Intrepid Travel · 9 days
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
Hola Cuba
9 Days
From AUD $3790
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(20 reviews)

Hola Cuba

Hola Cuba

Intrepid Travel · 9 days
Duration

9 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Comfortable

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Experience the splendour of Cuba – a cobblestoned Caribbean gem where the rum is plentiful, the smiles infectious and dancing is essential.

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (8), Lunch (6), Dinner (7)
Accommodation: Comfortable Guesthouse (8 nights)

Highlights

  • Learn the local customs, folklore and beliefs behind Afro-Cuban religion as you’re welcomed into the homes of devoted residents in Havana.
  • Relish a real garden-to-plate dining experience at a privately-owned organic farm in picturesque Vinales – indulge in a variety of fresh produce while gazing across the sweeping valley.
  • Gain fascinating insight into the rise and fall of the charismatic and highly celebrated Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara at his mausoleum and museum in Santa Clara.
  • Experience Cuban hospitality during dinner with a local family in Trinidad and soak up the coastal charm as you wander along cobblestone streets and relax on the white sands of Playa Ancon.
  • Support the Cuban community and make meaningful connections with locals during stays at privately owned guesthouses and meals at home-grown restaurants.
Hola Cuba

Trip Details

Duration

9 days

Transportation

Private vehicle

Guide Language

English

Starts

Havana, Cuba

Finishes

Havana, Cuba

Accommodations

Comfortable

Travel Style

Explorer, Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Havana
Bienvenido! Welcome to Cuba. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Soak in the faded beauty of Havana and the surreal feeling that you have entered a bygone era. You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm. Until then, the day is free for you to explore. Why not take a stroll to get acquainted with Cuba’s capital, where vintage cars, plumes of cigar smoke, Neo-Gothic churches and Art Deco theaters come together in a unique mesh of histories. After your welcome meeting, have dinner at a local paladar – a privately owned restaurant and great example of Cuba’s incremental shift to a free-market economy.

Included Activities:

  • Complimentary arrival transfer

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Havana
After breakfast this morning, set off for a day of discovery, as you find out more about the local customs, folklore and beliefs of Cuba’s Afro-Cuban religion. A local guide will bring you to private homes where you’ll learn about one of Havana’s subcultures from the residents. Next, you’ll get to see outer Havana in a convoy of classic American vintage cars. Cruise past the Malecon, Revolution Square and Avenida de los presidentes. End in Old Havana, where you’ll head out with your leader on a walking tour around this charming neighbourhood. This UNESCO World Heritage site brims with 16th-century fortresses and countless churches and you’ll get to a few of them, including La Catedral San Cristobal de la Habana, the Palacio de los Marqueses de Aguas Claras and the Plaza de Armas. After a full day of exploration, enjoy an evening at leisure.

Included Activities:

  • Havana - Afro-Cuban Religion Tour (guide and transport included)
  • Havana - Leader led City Tour of Old Havana
  • Havana - American Vintage Car Tour (No guide and transport included)

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Vinales
This morning, head east to Vinales. Along the way, stop by an outer-Havana suburb to see the passion project of Jose Fuster, an artist who has turned an entire neighborhood into a whimsical and colourful series of mosaics known as 'Fusterlandia.' Continue your journey to the local community of Las Terrazas, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that was built as part of a government reforestation project. Meet with local community leaders to learn how the society works, visit the ecological research centre and take a guided walk around the complex. After lunch, continue to the small, culturally rich village of Vinales – situated in one of the prettiest parts of Cuba. When you arrive in the center of town, take an orientation walk, then head to a privately owned organic farm to learn about sustainable farming in Cuba. You may have the chance to meet local farmer Wilfredo Garcia Correa or his family, who will show you around the farm and explain the pesticide-free methods they use to cultivate crops. Then, enjoy a deliciously fresh and diverse meal prepared by the family.

Included Activities:

  • Havana - Jaimanitas (Mosaic-laden Neighbourhood) including Fusterlandia (Entrance fee)
  • Las Terrazas - Sustainable Rural Economy Project (Entrance fee and Guide included)
  • Vinales - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Vinales - Farm-to-table dinner at an eco-friendly ranch

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Vinales
Spend the morning learning more about Cuban agriculture during a visit to a local tobacco farm. Learn about the rich tradition of Cuban cigars, from tobacco planting to rolling the final cigar. Gain insight into how the communist system works, how much tobacco the farmers keep and how much produce they give back to the government. Share in the secret recipe of how the tobacco farmers cure their leaves, which originated from one family and has been passed down through three generations. Then, sip some freshly roasted coffee from the farm while watching an expert roll a cigar. In the afternoon, get moving with a salsa dance lesson, then watch a cooking demonstration from a local chef. Vinales is one of the more agriculturally productive areas of Cuba, so an abundance of homegrown seasonal fruit and vegetables are always on offer, like avocados, mangoes, pineapples, papayas, guavas and several varieties of sweet potatoes. Sit back, relax and enjoy the well-prepared meal while overlooking the lush Vinales.

Included Activities:

  • Vinales - Half-day Valley tour on foot including Tobacco Farmhouse
  • Vinales - Salsa dance lesson (1 hour)
  • Vinales - Cooking Demonstration by Local Chef

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Cienfuegos
Depart Vinales early this morning and head to Cienfuegos. Stop for lunch, then visit the Korimakao Cultural Project in Cienega de Zapata, an area famous for its wetlands. Founded in 1992, the Korimakao project brings theatre, music and dancing to remote areas of Cuba. You’ll meet a project director and learn about the importance of this venture and the number of students that have benefited from it. Continue along the picturesque coast to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cienfuegos. This is the gem of the south, a seaside town of relaxing streets and French architecture. Stop for a photo at the waterside Palacio del Valle, known for its Moorish and Spanish Mudejar styles. Learn more about its history as you take in the beauty of its intricate Venetian alabaster carvings. Maybe head to the rooftop for a sunset drink while you’re here.

Included Activities:

  • Cienaga de Zapata - Korimakao Cultural Project (entrance fee, guide and transport included)
  • Cienfuegos - Leader-led orientation walk

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Trinidad
This morning, join your group for a leader-led walk around Cienfuegos before getting back on the road and heading towards the Topes de Collantes Natural Park. Have lunch at a small, privately owned family farm, then travel on to the beautiful city of Trinidad. Located near the Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of Sugar Mills) and Playa Ancon, Trinidad enjoys long stretches of unspoiled, white-sand beaches and is home to numerous churches and well-preserved buildings. When you arrive, take a guided cultural tour of the city, stepping inside a few historic buildings housing interesting museum collections. Later, visit the private pottery workshop of the Santander family, who have produced pottery for generations. In the evening, perhaps seek out the local dance scene in Trinidad, maybe the Afro-Cuban Folkloric dance group that perform shows at the club Palenque.

Included Activities:

  • Trinidad - Leader-led City Tour including Museums (entrance fees, guide and transport included)
  • Trinidad - Pottery Centre

Optional Activities:

  • Trinidad - Afro-Cuban folklore show (entrance fee) from (3 EUR)
  • Trinidad - Cave Disco (entrance fee) (14 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Trinidad
This morning is yours to explore Trinidad. Perhaps you’d like to hire a bike and cycle along the city’s colorful streets, past once-grand mansions, pastel buildings and wrought-iron features. Or maybe choose to explore one of the excellent walking trails in the nearby Sierra del Escambray mountains. Your leader can suggest a local paladar for lunch. In the afternoon, maybe head to Playa Ancon for some beach time and perhaps a little snorkelling. This evening, join back up with your group for dinner.

Included Activities:

  • Trinidad - Sunset Picnic at Playa Ancon (Weather Dependent)

Optional Activities:

  • Trinidad - Musical Instrument Lesson (guitar, double bass, tres, percussion) per hour (10 EUR)
  • Trinidad - Snorkel gear rental (5 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Havana
Depart Trinidad this morning and make your way to Santa Clara, a key city in the Cuban Revolution. When you arrive, you’ll see the iconic statue of Ernesto Che Guevara, built to commemorate his death and that of the revolutionaries. There will also be time to explore the museum which honors Che's life. Then, drive back to Havana, where you’ll have some time to freshen up before a final, fun-filled night of music, dinner and dancing at Rosalia de Castro – where you’ll enjoy an ensemble of Cuban classics performed live by Buena Vista Social Club!

Included Activities:

  • Santa Clara - Che Guevara Mausoleum and Museum (entrance fee)
  • Havana - Buena Vista Social Club Performance (entrance fee & dinner)

Accommodation:

  • Comfortable guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
9
Day 9: Havana
Your adventure ends today after breakfast. There are no activities planned for the final day, so it’s time to say goodbye to your leader and your new travel friends before you head back to the US.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $3,790
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 9 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Experience the splendour of Cuba – a cobblestoned Caribbean gem where the rum is plentiful, the smiles infectious and dancing is essential.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 16 Oct 2027

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
4.5
Robert
Traveled, April 2024

04/23/2024

Excellent introduction to Havana and western Cuba. Our tour leader Yanet was well-organized, passionate about his country, and thoroughly knowledgeable about the island and its history. Jorge, our driver, carried our group of 10 safely and comfortably to each destination in a new small bus that had plenty of room.

4.5
Lawrence
Traveled, April 2024

04/22/2024

Wonderful trip. Learned something at every stop. The people are friendly, the scenery beautiful. Take mosquito repellent and lots of $1 bills.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989